HONOLULU – Gov. David Ige has selected five nominees to serve on the Hawai‘i Community Development Authority. They are Donna Ann Camvel, Phillip Hasha, Jo-Ann Leong, Jason Okuhama, Maeda Timson. Okuhama is being reappointed.

“These nominees represent a wide range of expertise that will serve the HCDA and our communities well as they work to establish community development plans that are in the best interest of Hawai‘i’s people,” said Gov. Ige.

The appointees are as follows:

Donna Ann Camvel (He‘eia District)

Camvel is a Hawaiian Studies lecturer at Windward Community College and is currently a graduate teaching assistant with the Kamakakuokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. She has a master’s degree in Hawaiian Studies from the Hawai‘inuiakea School of Hawaiian Knowledge at UH Mānoa. Term: July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2021.

Philip Hasha

Phillip Hasha:(Kaka‘ako District) **

Hasha is currently the principal and CEO of The Redmont Group, LLC, a start-up commercial real estate company he co-founded in 2012. Hasha previously worked as finance director for Direct Support Resources, Inc. in Honolulu and Hasha Appraisal and Consulting Service, Inc. in Alabama. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, majoring in Finance and an executive master’s in Real Estate Development. Hasha recently received the SBA Young Entrepreneur of the Year award and was named one of the 2015 Forty under 40 Rising Business and Community Leaders by Pacific Business News. Term: July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2021.

Jo-Ann C. Leong:(He‘eia District)

Leong is director emeritus of the Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology and a professor at the School of Ocean and Earth Science & Technology at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. She was a distinguished professor of microbiology and the former chairman of the Department of Microbiology at Oregon State University. Leong is an elected member of the American Academy of Microbiology. Term: July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2021

Jason Okuhama

Jason Okuhama: (Kaka‘ako District) – Reappointment **

Okuhama is currently a managing partner at Hawai‘i Lending Specialists, LLC, dba Commercial and Business Lending, Honolulu Hawai‘i. Previously, he was vice president/business loan officer at Bank of America, a business loan officer with the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) and assistant branch manager at First Hawaiian Bank in Kamuela, Hawai‘i. Term: July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2021.

Maeda Timson

Maeda Timson:(Kalaeloa District) **

Timson is a long-time community advocate of Kapolei. She is currently a self-employed consultant specializing in community relations. Timson previously worked as a bank executive and public information officer for the City and County of Honolulu. In addition to previously serving on the HCDA, Timson is associated with various community organizations. Term: July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2021.

HONOLULU – Gov. David Ige has nominated corporate executive and consultant Douglas Shinsato to the University of Hawai‘i Board of Regents, representing Hawai‘i County (East).

Shinsato is co-founder of Anthill Ventures, a cross-border incubator and advisor to technology start-ups in India, Southeast Asia, Europe and the United States. Anthill focuses on tele-education, tele-health, sustainable food production, and cyber-security. Shinsato and his global partners focus on innovative digital technologies that aim to improve people’s lives.

Shinsato is also a member of the Board of Directors of Creative Intelligence Associates, one of Japan’s top branding strategy firms. The consulting firm advises clients on how to leverage or transform their branding and messaging strategies to increase customer satisfaction, revenues and profits.

Previously, Shinsato served as president for leading technology companies such as PTC Japan and as vice president-Asia Pacific for Autodesk. He was also senior partner at Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu.

“I am honored to be appointed to the Board of Regents. I look forward to working with my fellow Regents on behalf of the UH and its extended community,” said Shinsato.

Shinsato has a B.A. and MBA from the University of Southern California and a Juris Doctor degree from the Stanford Law School.

He is married to Jennifer Lindsay-Shinsato. They have two adult children and one grandchild.

If confirmed by the state Senate, Shinsato will complete the term of the late Barry Mizuno. The term expires on June 30, 2018.

HONOLULU – Gov. David Ige today announced that he has nominated State Rep. Marcus Oshiro (D-House District 46) to the Hawaii Labor Relations Board as Chairperson and Representative of the Public. Oshiro will be completing the term left vacant by the resignation of Kerry Komatsubara, which ends June 30, 2018, and he is also being appointed for a six-year term which ends June 30, 2024.

“Marcus is a respected leader who knows and understands the issues, and he has the background and experience to step right in to fill this very important role,” said Gov. Ige. “This will be a new opportunity for him to use his talent and skills on behalf of the public, and I have every confidence in him.”

“I am humbled by Gov. Ige’s nomination to serve as the chairperson of the Hawaii Labor Relations Board. With the Senate’s approval, I look forward to ensuring our labor laws are applied fairly and consistently with the principles of collective bargaining in promoting the harmonious and cooperative relations between the parties.”

Oshiro has served in the State House of Representatives since being elected in 1994. He is a former vice speaker, majority leader, and is past-chair of the committees on finance and labor. He is an active member of the community,

Oshiro earned his Juris Doctorate at Willamette University College of Law after completing his undergraduate work at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. He is a graduate of Leilehua High School.

Both nominations to fill Komatsubara’s term and to the additional six-year term are subject to Senate confirmation.

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Ige Buys Oshiro out of House, Gets to Make Appointment

SA: …The makeover at the state House of Representatives continues. The House has new leadership, including Speaker Scott Saiki, and other members of the body are moving around.

Notably, Reps. Isaac Choy and James Tokioka, critics of the new rail deal, have been kicked off the powerful Finance Committee. And a past chairman of that committee, Rep. Marcus Oshiro, has been nominated by Gov. David Ige to lead the Hawaii Labor Relations Board. Should the Senate approve his nomination by Friday, Oshiro would leave the House in late September — and that’ll give Ige the plum opportunity to appoint his replacement from a short list provided by the Democratic Party….

HONOLULU – Gov. David Ige today announced two appointments to the Third Circuit Court (Island of Hawaiʻi) as follows:

Henry Taro Nakamoto

Henry Taro Nakamoto, 53, District Family Court Judge, Third Circuit, is appointed to the Third Circuit Court (Hilo) to fill the vacancy created by the December 2016 retirement of The Honorable Glenn S. Hara.

Judge Nakamoto has served as a Family Court Judge and a District Court Judge beginning in June 2014. Prior to his service on the bench, he practiced law at Nakamoto, Okamoto & Yamamoto where he was a partner and director, and Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel, where he was an associate. He was born and raised on Hawaiʻi Island and practiced law there for 23 years, focusing on family and civil law. Nakamoto completed a B.A. in economics at Cornell University before earning his J.D. at Hastings College of Law.

“I would like to thank Gov. Ige for giving me the opportunity to serve as a circuit court judge. I appreciate all the support I have gotten from friends and family and will strive to continue to serve the community,” said Nakamoto.

Robert D.S. Kim

Attorney Robert D.S. Kim, 63, is appointed to the Third Circuit Court (Kona) to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of The Honorable Judge Ronald Ibarra in June 2017.

Kim, who is in private practice, is a litigator who concentrates in the areas of criminal defense, family law, civil litigation, personal injury litigation, and administrative proceedings. Kim has served as the West Hawaii Bar President for many years. He has extensive civil, family and criminal trial experience. Kim graduated from the University of Hawaiʻi – Hilo with a Bachelor of Arts in political science and earned his law degree at the William S. Richardson School of Law.

“I am honored and humbled to be nominated to fill the position of retired Judge Ronald Ibarra. I am committed to work diligently and respectfully if I am confirmed by the Senate,” said Kim.

“Judge Nakamoto and Mr. Kim both understand the law and the role of a judge in ensuring fair and impartial decisions in our judicial system. They will serve the people of Hawaiʻi well,” said Gov. Ige.

The process used to select these appointees is the same process used in prior selections and will be used whenever Gov. Ige makes judicial appointments. Gov. Ige personally interviewed each candidate, received input from retired Hawai‘i State Supreme Court Associate Justice James Duffy, who reviewed the qualifications of the nominees and solicited feedback on each from the law community, and reviewed testimony submitted by the public. The Senate confirmation also allows opportunities for the general public to weigh in.